Tag Archives: warning

Pilate compromised justice because of a greater fear...

Sometimes it doesn’t take much to cause a human to compromise his beliefs.

I don’t know much about Pilate, particularly the private man, the real man. But in some ways, he seems a man with some sense of justice. And he certainly was a man capable of fear (John 19:8).

And yet he compromised justice and overcame some significant fears concerning Jesus’ identity because of a greater fear: being perceived as having the wrong friends.

“And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar” (John 19:12).

How important is it to me to have the “right” friends?

Whose friend am I ready to be?

And what kind of compromises would I make for that?

Let me never be as Pilate.

May I always stand for Jesus. And may I always stand with Jesus as a friend to those who, because of bigotry and bias, are despised by others.

...if I don't stick that hot coal in my pocket.
“Doing this would hurt someone else, but not me. I can do this much without getting hurt. I’m not dumb; I know what I’m doing.”

Sin has its consequences and they are always inescapable for everyone.

“Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?” (Proverbs 6:27).

Sometimes it is so easy to answer, “Yes.”

If I were to pull a glowing coal from a barbecue grill and drop it in my pocket, how can I expect no burning?!

Let me always see all sin that way, because that’s the way it is.

Adultery, covetousness, unkindness, speeding, lying, pride, contentiousness, rebellion, selfishness — on and on I could go. They are all burning coals!